Looming SunsetThis evening brought a beautiful, dramatic storm which rocked my little cottage and brought a stunning sunset. Dark, heavy clouds were pierced by the most elegant, orange clouds over the sea, and seagulls seemed to be thrilled to play in the wild winds. All evening the wind has continued, and the untamed rains, and even a little snow. All this while I look out over the sea. I live in the tiniest little beach cottage, and when the wind blows hard, I wonder just how long before the floor gives way. My little street floods and the dog won’t even go out. I love my little seaside cottage, though it’s a temporary arrangement. A friend had this little cabin available just for a few months until tourist season, so I jumped on it. Every morning we walk on the shore, and once in awhile we get the treat of another wild storm on the sea. I just love it.

Related Images:

This is what I come home to these days….

I caught this out of the corner of my eye – I’d never seen a shell penetrated by light. The little ripples where it was resting in the sand were just a little magical too.

I wanted to share this moment I found and photographed on the beach at my house, because when we talk about fine art, I remembered this: the finest art is sometimes happening right under our noses, in nature, every single day. The amazing backlight of sunset painted on the back of this shell – shining right through it – stopped me in my tracks. Beautiful nature of our extraordinary world gives to us the opportunity to see the true mastery of light if we only look.

I am back at my little sea cottage and arrived right at sunset to a beautiful orange and pink sky, with the ocean slipping away in the low tide just in front of my door. Now a storm is rolling in, and while I was tucked in with the dog, doing a little work, I heard just outside – what was that?? – an owl on my roof, just above me. Over and over, hoot-hoothoothoot-hooot..

Related Images:

The meadow was bathed in orange evening light, the velvety summer air smooth and luxurious on our bare shoulders. For photographers, this is the God Hour. The stunning backdrop of the crunchy summer meadow, its tall, reedy plants swaying and scratching each other in the breeze, was almost unbearably beautiful. We were wrapping up. The final shot, the model directly in front of the setting sun, and my friend Meggan Joy, the photographer, had asked me to shoot behind the scenes shots for her while she shot a senior portrait, along with her husband.

None of us realized that resting somewhere in this vast amber meadow was a little yellow bird and a big, black SUV. The police pulled the big machine up behind our cars, blocking us in, and bellowed from their windows to go back to our cars immediately. I was elated to have gotten that last shot, and wondered what the hell was happening.

As we handed over our ID’s and registration, the shorter of the two short men informed us that we were trespassing into a protected area, due to the presence in this meadow of an endangered species. From under his authority-imbued eyebrows, he informed us that we were on Federal land, and could potentially be arrested for trespassing, or heavily fined, or have our cars impounded, or all of the above. The second stood on the far side of my car, looking in through my passenger window. He seemed to be willing my camera, pregnant with amber-lit shots and waiting in the front seat, to give up its secrets.

They were tough alright, with their black car/crewcuts/uniforms/guns. But even a bad ass cop looks less fierce when, after I ask him what exactly is the name of the endangered animal, answers a little meekly, “Oh, well…I believe it’s called a Streak Horned Lark.” Turns out this little lark is on the “proposed” list for endangerment, but is not yet. Good news! It was obvious we were only there photographing, and had no idea we were potentially harming any birds. We had followed back roads and simply did not see the signs.

After 30 minutes, we were duly and sternly warned and free to go, and given instructions about how to purchase a permit for the future. In the meantime, we walked away with beautiful, sunset shots from the God Hour, and I was pleased to know there are police out there patrolling on behalf of innocent birds nesting on the ground. As it turns out, the bird has been proposed to be endangered, though is not official yet. Nonetheless, one mustn’t cause unnecessary tweets of the actual variety.

The Streak Horned Lark is lucky to have bad ass cops, a gorgeous, open meadow, and plenty of God Light every single day. That’s a beautiful thing.

If you’d like to learn more, click here for a bit more information about this little bird – the original kind, strictly tweeting offline.

-Anjani

Related Images:

Yesterday we climbed to Tiger’s Nest Monastery just outside Paro and sheer amazement occurred. Off to a morning at a Bhutanese Festival then straight on to 4 day trek in the Himalayas. 500+ photos so far and no time to post. Too busy living. ;-). More in a week or so. Have a happy life until we meet again!